bicchiere
/bikˈkjɛ.re/masculine
The English word glass (as a drinking vessel) is translated into Italian as bicchiere. Wiktionary also lists boccale.
Meaning: drinking vessel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bicchiere | /bikˈkjɛ.re/ | masculine |
| boccale | /bokˈka.le/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
bicchiere is the general term for a standard drinking glass. In contrast, boccale refers to a larger, often heavy or rustic mug or tankard, often used for beer or water. The term calice is used in sophisticated contexts to refer to a wine glass or a goblet.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bicchiere is bicchieri. The plural form of boccale is boccali.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 3 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable: /bikˈkjɛ.re/.
Did you know?
- In Italian, you cannot use bicchiere to describe the material 'glass'. For that, you must use the word vetro.
- Historically, the term boccale may have roots in Berber or Egyptian languages via the Koine Greek word for a wine-cooling container.
- The word boccale is etymologically linked to the Italian word bocca, meaning 'mouth'.
Examples in context
- È il mio bicchiere.It's my glass.This sentence is useful for identifying ownership of a bicchiere.Tatoeba #13734047 by Guybrush88, translation #6089467 by AsaeP
- C'è un bicchiere lì.There is a glass there.This sentence is useful for indicating the location of a bicchiere.Tatoeba #13734119 by Guybrush88, translation #9550041 by Dmitrij15
- Il bicchiere è vuoto.The glass is empty.This sentence is useful for describing the state of a bicchiere.Tatoeba #2845082 by Guybrush88, translation #2423572 by CM
- Mi scusi, potrebbe portarmi un bicchiere d'acqua, per favore?Excuse me, could you bring me a glass of water, please?
- Potrei avere un calice di vino rosso, per cortesia?Could I have a glass of red wine, please?
- Dopo cena, possiamo fare un bicchierino di limoncello?After dinner, can we have a shot of limoncello?
- 607 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are having a drink at home.
- MartinaMatteo, vuoi un bicchiere d'acqua?Matteo, do you want a glass of water?
- MatteoSì, grazie, ho molta sete.Yes, thanks, I am very thirsty.
- MartinaPrendi questo bicchiere pulito.Take this clean glass.
- MatteoGrazie mille, Martina.Thanks a lot, Martina.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glass” translations and entries bicchiere, boccale, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bicchiere, boccale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
